A sex offender who was in a lengthy armed standoff with police that prompted nearby school lockdowns in 2021 was convicted and now faces up to 16 years in prison. 

The Washoe County District Attorney's Office says Thomas Balboni Jr. has been convicted of Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Possession of a Silencer, and Resisting, Obstructing, and/or Delaying Public Officers with Use of a Firearm.

Prosecutors say the Tier III sex offender had been out of compliance with registering since 2019. In July 2021, a Secret Witness tip was submitted regarding Balboni’s whereabouts.

Officers with Parole and Probation and the Regional Sex Offender Unit began investigating and conducting surveillance of Balboni. In August 2021, prosecutors say detectives with the Repeat Offender Program and RPD SWAT located Balboni at a home where a child was present. After waiting for the child to leave for school, police tried to arrest Balboni and execute a search warrant. But, despite officers’ multiple commands ordering him to surrender, he refused to leave the home’s garage.

They say a standoff then began with Balboni arming himself with an operable AR-15 style rifle loaded with approximately 80 bullets. Hours after, he eventually left the garage and was arrested.

Prosecutors say police discovered a silencer in Balboni’s possession, as well as ammunition, magazines, and multiple operable firearms. 

Balboni faces up to 16 years in prison when he's sentenced on April 20.

AUGUST 25, 2021:

Precautionary code yellow lockdowns are now lifted at Wooster High and Corbett Elementary schools after a warrant was issued for a wanted sex offender at a home on Auburn Way in Reno. 

Sparks Police say a warrant was issued due to 41-year-old Thomas Balboni not complying with the law. 

Authorities say as a precaution, the bomb squad was called out due to the possibility of any explosive devices inside the home, early Wednesday morning. When SWAT arrived at the home, police say Balboni was wearing a ballistic vest and armed with a rifle. 

Eventually, Balboni was arrested and booked into Washoe County jail on several charges, including failing to register as a sex offender as required by law and an ex-felon in possession of a firearm. 

No injuries were reported in the incident, but police do say officers got three people outside of beforehand - a man, a woman and one child. 

The Washoe County School District says classes have returned to normal operations at both schools. 

In a separate incident, Alyce Taylor was placed on a precautionary Code Yellow Lockdown, also for nearby police activity, near Egyptian Drive in Sparks. Minutes after the WCSD announced the precautionary measure, that lockdown was lifted. 

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